Factory workers who make Jaffa Cakes and Mini Cheddars are beginning an "indefinite" strike - raising fears of a shortage of the snack favourites over Christmas. A union said the walkout by staff at Jacob’s Biscuits would "continue every single day" until a pay dispute is solved.
The industrial action involves 750 staff members at a factory in Aintree, Liverpool. Eamon O’Hearn, national officer at the GMB union, told the Mirror workers "are rightly angry", Birmingham Live reports.
He said: "They put themselves on the line to keep the company going during the pandemic. Now they need some help to get them through the cost of living crisis, but it’s falling on deaf ears.
"Jacob’s workers will now be on strike 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the company comes back to the negotiating table."
Pay negotiations have continued more than a year, according to union sources, with limited industrial action starting in September. It is understood employees have been offered 4.25% rises.
The GMB is thought to have asked for a 10% increase so its members’ real wages are not cut. However Jacobs' parent company, is said to believe such a hike would be unaffordable. The firm was contacted for comment.
